The Northampton girls soccer team rallied from 1-0 first half deficit to stun Easton in overtime to advance to their third District XI semifinal in six years with a 2-1 victory at Al Erdosy Stadium last Wednesday.

Once again, the team was without leading goal scorer Olivia Abrachinsky, who continued to be sidelined with an injury. When Kennedy McMillan cleaned up a loose ball in front of the Kids’ goal at the 20:10 mark of the first half to put the Rovers up 1-0, it looked like a season that began with great promise would end without the dream of playing for title.

However, head coach Michael Missmer never counted his bunch out. He explained, “Mentally, this group was just in it. I didn’t feel the normal worry that I often feel. I felt like it was going to work out. I thought these seniors are going to grow into the game. The underclassmen we had on the field were having a great game. Brielle (Szoke) stepped up and had her great game at the time when we needed it.”

Szoke, who as a freshman in 2022 scored the winning goal in 1-0 triumph over Nazareth in the district quarterfinals, still wears a brace as she continues to recover from a knee injury that kept her out of the entire 2023 season.

“Coming back from her injury, which was a real devastating injury, it took maybe a little bit of time. Tonight she was fantastic. I’m very proud of her. She was a difference maker today,” said Missmer.

A hustling Szoke earned a corner for the Kids 8 minutes into the second half and Anne Beenders utilized the jumping skills she’s honed as a member of the Northampton track and field team to perfectly time a header from Lindsay Reimer’s service to get the Kids even.

As time wound down in the first 15-minute overtime period, Szoke was again the catalyst for the K-Kids offense. She found Alayna Hahn open and the sophomore buried the golden goal to send Northampton on to the next round.